One of the benefits of being on swing shift is seeing beautiful sunsets...

...he has set a tent for the sun,
     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
     and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
     and its circuit to the end of them,
     and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

- Psalm 19:4-6

I want to be able to bike to church. (mailed July 5, 2011)

Commissioner Thomas Van Cleave
Forest Preserve District of Kane County
1996 South Kirk Road, Suite 320
Geneva, IL 60134


Dear Commissioner Van Cleave:

As a resident of Batavia and an avid bicyclist, I am writing to ask about a possible extension to the bike trails which intersect at the corner of Kirk Rd. and Fabyan Parkway in Geneva.  Would it be possible to construct an extension from that corner to the parking lot of the Fox Valley Ice Arena?  This extension would allow a cyclist to ride to Cherry Lane from the south without needing to ride on Kirk Rd. or walk through knee-high grass and thistles along sections of Kirk.  

This is of interest to me and multiple other members of The Well, which is a church congregation that has recently begun sharing the Fox Valley Church of God building on the corner of Kirk and Cherry.  Several of us would like to be able to bike to church on Sunday mornings. We have even discussed having a “Bike to Church Sunday.”  However, there is currently no safe or convenient bicycle route, and the extension I have suggested would complete one from the south.

I realize that such a suggestion would require considerable money and time, so if such a trail extension is impractical at present, it would still be helpful if the grass on the west side of Kirk Road could be kept short enough to make walking though it practical.  Thank you for your time and consideration.



Sincerely,



Luke Corwin

Ask Your Senators To Support the TVPRA

I called both of my senators today.

If you have trouble viewing this email, please click here. Dear Friend, On June 29, 2011, a bill called the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Leahy (VT), Brown (MA), Kerry (MA), Boxer (CA), Cardin (MD), and Wyden (OR). Your voice matters. Take one minute NOW to urge your Senators to co-sponsor the TVPRA. This bi-partisan legislation is critical - it will renew the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which established the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, authorized the annual Trafficking in Persons report, and established human trafficking as a punishable crime here in the U.S. Abolitionists around the country are calling on Congress to pass the TVPRA quickly. Will you join us? Thank you for your support! Gratefully, Eileen Campbell Director of Justice Campaigns P.S. Stay tuned for updates on the introduction of the TVPRA in the U.S. House of Representatives! Change your email preferences / Unsubscribe | Update Profile Forward this to a friend www.ijm.org | PO Box 58147, Washington, DC 20037 All text and images © 2011 International Justice Mission.

One Reason I Enjoy Giving Tours of the MINOS Underground Area

Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 17:11:53 -0500 (CDT) [18 May 2011 05:11:53 PM CDT]

...

Subject: thanks!

Dear Aria, Art, Zeynep and Luke,

Thanks so much for the tunnel tour Friday at MINOS.  I totally love going down there and I really appreciate your time and patience with my science writing students so they can love it too.  I am endlessly fascinated by the concept of sending neutrinos through a tunnel and then the Earth to Minnesota...I don't think there'll ever be a day when I'm not amazed.  You do a wonderful job making the science accessible and explaining what goes on in the tunnel.  Then there are those elephant doors....

The students told me afterward they thought the tour was awesome...they even liked your elevator.

I look forward to visiting again.

All the best,

Donna

Poor Neighbors

Somehow, I never noticed that these two proverbs are right next to each other.

"The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
  but the rich has many friends.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
  but blessed is he who is generous to the poor."
- Proverbs 14:20-21

Summer Travel Plans

• June 12-17: We will be in Ely, MN for the MINOS Week in the Woods Collaboration Meeting at Vermilion Community College.  This will be a particularly important meeting as our far detector has recently been restored to working order after a fire.  
• June 24-26: We will be driving to Independence, WI to visit my parents and sister.
• June 30 - July 2: We will be traveling to Arlington, VA to witness the marriage of our friend Cate.
• July 16-18: Yet another wedding! Our maid of honor Kristen will be getting married in Letchworth State Park, which is near Buffalo, NY.  We will be flying there to celebrate with her and hope to visit Niagra Falls and Canada. 

Fighting Slavery

The Blogger outage of May 11 seems to have deleted the original version of this entry, so I have had to re-write it.

The Well has joined the fight against human trafficking, which is the name commonly given to modern day slavery.  This is a horrific organized criminal reality, and we believe God has called us to actively fight against it.  Our contribution to this cause is called Making Waves.

We are raising funds and raising awareness in many ways, including a garage sale this weekend that my wife and I hosted and a plant sale that another church member hosted.  Both were part of the Batavia city-wide garage sale and raised a total of more than $500.  The Well also sponsored and organized and a 5K run/walk on May 14 to raise funds for a community training class on May 21. "The training is for first-line responders (or anyone in a position to serve youth).  The training will equip participants to recognize the signs of human trafficking and will empower them with the proper tools for response."

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

  whose hope is in the LORD his God,

  who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,

  who keeps faith forever; 

  who executes justice for the oppressed,

  who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free; 

  the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; 

  the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the sojourners; 

  he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

  but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin."

- Psalm 146:5-9